INAPPROPRIATE exposure, drinking and rowdiness in Evesham's Workman Gardens is causing boaters to be put off coming to the town.

This is according to Avon Leisure Cruises, which departs for its trips along the River Avon from a mooring in the gardens, and visitors to the popular Evesham River Festival this year.

Guy Bearcroft, general manager of the cruise company, contacted the Journal after a recent article concerning problems in Workman Gardens.

He is calling for alcohol to be banned in the gardens.

"When we have passengers boarding the vessel they have to walk right through Workman Gardens," Mr Bearcroft, manager of Avon Leisure Cruises.

"They say, they like the cruise and enjoy coming on the river but that it was disappointing to have to walk through people drinking and being rowdy.

"We find what comes up a lot is urinating in bushes and inappropriate exposure.

"We feel there is a greater police present now and that helps but unfortunately Workman Gardens is not an alcohol free zone and so the police's hands are tied.

"The problem is the loud and rowdy behaviour is turning people away."

And at a recent Evesham Town Council meeting councillor Wendy Dyke said she was familiar with the problems.

"We are from the boating community," she said. "We meet a lot of people. We try and reassure people that they should stop in Evesham. But there have been problems, after the River Festival we had several emails from people saying they had a problem there that night with people jumping on the boat."

But the police said there are no longer powers to make alcohol free zones and would only attend reports of criminal offences.

Wychavon Safer Neighbourhood Inspector Janet Heritage said: "We have been working very closely with the council in respect of Workman Gardens and we have carried out covert and overt patrols for some weeks in the area which has shown that there are very few police offences being committed. Where there are, they have been dealt with appropriately.

"If a Designated Public Place Order is put in place, it should be made very clear that this does not make it an alcohol free zone and we will not attend incidents where people are reported to be drinking alcohol."

Cllr Gerry O'Donnell confirmed Wychavon District Council, which owns the park, were investigating the problem.

Dave Hemming, community safety manager at Wychavon, said: "We’re currently preparing papers to go to our executive board on whether they want to proceed with this (Designated Public Place Orders) as an approach."